Tag Archives: Acquiring Editor

I had planned to write this exactly one week after I officially started, but a nasty cold gobsmacked me (please do not bandy about the word ‘flu’, I am optimistically denying the possibility that this yuck is a flu).

So, here I am a tad late with my ‘what I learned’ post. Let’s see, I think my official start was the tenth, and it’s now the nineteenth, so just a couple of days late. Not too bad.

Now, where was I going with this…? Right, what I learned this week (besides realizing that tissues with lotion are worth their weight in gold).

There are some fantastic world builders out there. Reading some unique and vastly different takes on parallell universes and fairy kingdoms made me remember why my first love is Fantasy.

As I suspected, saying ‘no’ is difficult, but it it’s not working, it’s not working.

Sometimes people read that we are interested in ‘first time authors’ as ‘first drafts from authors’ or ‘first ever finished piece’. While there are first drafts/first stories which are great and ready to submit, that number is very small, and the vast majority will benefit from beta readers/critique partners/heavy editing.

I have a great group of co-acquisitions editors who love to read.

In this next week I’m looking forward to reading more submission and getting over this cold. My anticipation for both is equally high, which says something about how much I am enjoying this! And I’m still waiting for that story that zings my interest. A couple were close, but not…quite…there.

Well, their head acquisitions editor does the slush pile read and culls out all the obviously not-ready-for-primetime submissions.

The rest he passes along to his acquiring editors to read. From there we decide if we, on behalf of the press, will a) pass or b) request more (typically a full manuscript). Oh the power! (and the responsibility, but I will do my utmost to not let it debilitate me).

Once a full is requested, I again have the responsibility to a) pass or b) ‘pitch’ it to the head acquiring editor as something I think the press should contract. Actually, if any responsibility will weigh heavily on me it will be this one, from either side. Saying ‘no’, after requesting a full will be hard and taking a stance that *this* book is worth the company investing in will be pressure-filled too. Plus there’s an option c) revise and resubmit. If the book is close and needs just a few tweaks, I can offer this opportunity as well. The good news is there are other acquiring editors I can run my thoughts by so, never fear, I am not doing this blind!

When (not if, but when!) I find a story that the acquiring editor agrees we should contract, and the writer accepts the contract, I then coordinate their transition to the editing and marketing team. Never fear, any author I’ve found can still contact me (but, honestly your new editor will more likely have the answers!).

One GREAT thing about Curiosity Quills – there are NO form letters. You read that right. Every single rejection is personalized, with a bit of feedback on why the story didn’t work. I think this is what sold me on the job. Why? Because I, too, write. Of course, now I’ve crossed a publisher off my submission list by agreeing to work for them (too much of a conflict of interest, I won’t touch that with ten foot pole!), but the pay off, helping other people pursue their dreams will be worth it.

Oh! And did I mention I can take part as an editor in pitch contests? Woo-hoo, looking forward to being a sneaky ninja editor soon! That will rock.

Look forward to seeing you around the web. Remember, I’m NOT taking submissions directly, you need go to Curiosity Quills site for information on the submission process (or click on that tab, up at the top of the page 🙂 ).

Spread the love!!

Like this:

Don't miss a thing!

Enter your email address to receive notice when new posts go up.

Join 95 other followers

About Me

Hired in January 2013 as an acquiring editor for Curiosity Quills Press (yes, that means I read some of the slush pile). Love Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-fi (but not space opera), and romance of many sorts. Horror is so not my thing, but there are other editors who read it, so send it on in! While I love romance, it's not CQP's deal, so while romantic elements are perfectly fine, skip sending in romance novels (generally if the romantic relationship between the heroine and hero is the central theme and the core of the story line it's not going to make it through).

All opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect the viewpoint of Curiosity Quills Press, their management, employees or subsidiaries.